Apacible to Paco Market—current

It was not possible to pass by Pasig River before without having one’s olfactory system suffer a bit. That inevitable crinkle around one’s nose is caused by none other than the stench of garbage and toxic waste emanating from the river. What was supposed to be a thing of beauty has become a sense of disgrace and even disgust for its people, and there is no one else to blame but the people themselves for allowing such a travesty to happen.

Cleaning the Pasig River then became a paramount task, one which requires tremendous patience and determination. No one was certain how the rehabilitation of Metro Manila’s water basin would turn out; that is until ABS-CBN Foundation managing director Gina Lopez came along.

Gina, who Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim described as “Superwoman,” took on the project with gusto, and it was then that Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig (KBPIP) came to fruition. With the KBPIP under her helm, people were suddenly convinced that the Pasig River would be restored to its former glory.

KBPIP started by lessening the solid waste with the construction of Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs). More than that, KBPIP understood that Pasig River’s recovery would have to start from the people, so they also initiated the Information, Education, and Communications (IEC) campaigns. These campaigns made the people surrounding Pasig River aware of waste management, thus preserving the river from further garbage.

Moreover, KBPIP gave Pasig River dwellers new homes by transferring the people from Estero de Paco to “Bayanijuan sa Calauan” in Laguna. “The key element of KBPIP was to give people a better life,” explained Gina. “And we were able to do it in less than a year. We relocated over a thousand families to better homes.”

Since it started, KBPIP has also managed to clean up the waters going from Quirino to Pedro Gil, Apacible to Paco Market, and Paco Market to Trece de Agosto. The once-dirty waters filled with trash have been cleared. The waters are still far from being clear and blue, but at least it has been rid of unnecessary garbage.

With the help of Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), dredging sludge materials and constructing easements are currently being undertaken.

To further ensure the preservation of Pasig River, the KBPIP has also entrusted the river to the River Warriors, a group of 27 men and women who would protect Estero de Paco and other waterways.

River Warriors were given military training by the men of Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Jesus Verzosa. They also went through several lectures on leadership, values formation, and personality development in order to better safeguard the waterways.

“River Warriors have dedication. They know that without the river, life won’t flourish. They also know that they have to become leaders and move the people around them to rally the river’s lifeline. River Warriors also have the commitment to preserve humanity and the environment,” said Earl Beja-Paolo of One Media Inc.

When people put their hearts and minds into one, there’s no limit to the things they can achieve. With such dedicated people giving it their all to restore Pasig River, who knows? Within seven years, Pasig River just might surpass its former glory.